Disclaimer: OK. Just look at the previous chapters, will you?
"Anakin Skywalker?" The guard asked at the door, staring suspiciously at Anakin's invitation card. He curled his upper lip and studied Anakin closely. Beside him, Anakin could hear Lukaz stammering nervously to the other guard. Under his guard's watchful eye, Anakin was glad he had taken Lukaz's advice and cut his hair. His blond curls was now neatly cropped and combed. "You may go," the guard permitted finally. Anakin nodded in thanks and giving Lukaz the 'I'll-be-waiting-inside' signal, entered the huge room.
As he took in the scene that held his view, Anakin, with all his laid- backness, couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. He smiled to himself. Who would have thought it? The slave boy from Tattooine in one of the finest places in the galaxy, surrounded by fine people. He took a step forward, and his keen, deep blue eyes sought out Sabé almost immediately. He gave a sigh and pasted a smile on his face, as he walked towards Sabé.
"Anakin! I was wondering if you were coming," Sabé said quietly, her volume softening with each word. Anakin felt a wave of guilt and he smiled, a real, sincere smile that brightened up his chiseled, tanned face.
"I'm sorry, I had to leave early this afternoon. I had to get some spare parts for my speeder," Anakin said, inwardly kicking himself for the lie. However, it seemed to do the trick as Sabé's eyes practically lit up. Feeling bad for leading her on, Anakin offered to get her a drink.
"No, it's fine," Sabé replied, a little too quickly. She bit her lip and peered up guiltily. Anakin raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Well, as the Senator's chief handmaiden, I have to prepare for some stuff. I know I'm supposed to be your date and all, but I really have to do those stuff."
"Stuff?" Anakin repeated dumbly.
"I have to oversee the servants as the go about doing their jobs. It wasn't supposed to be me, but they're short of manpower and it is my duty to." On and on she babbled, and Anakin had to smile in amusement.
"I get it. It's your responsibility. I understand," Anakin interrupted. "I'll find something to do, don't worry." He gave a mischievous grin. "I won't get into much trouble, I promise, Jedi's honor."
"You're not a Jedi," Sabé protested, laughing at his impish look.
"I COULD be," he countered, stroking his chin, trying to look serious. Sabé laughed again and with a wave, she walked off. Anakin watched her leave, before turning to the other direction and walking towards the garden. He needed a place to be alone; after all, he doesn't really like to be in a crowd.
+++
Padmé smiled at yet another politician, and racked her brains to try and remember the latter's name. "Bail!" She finally recalled, and exclaimed aloud. The charismatic young man grinned back at her. Padmé opened her mouth to continue, when she heard someone else calling her. Excusing herself, she turned her head, and greeted another senator. She sighed in annoyance as she caught sight of Obi-wan, who was standing at the other end of the room, talking to Chancellor Palpantine.
She walked away from the group, a little rudely, and out onto the garden. Breathing in the fresh air, she let the cool breeze comfort and relax her. She walked deeper into the garden, turning randomly, or so it seemed. Padmé had grown up in the palace, and she knew every inch of the garden. In fact, she was probably the only person who had actually ever explored to the end of the garden.
As she walked into her very own secret spot, a place so deep into the huge, jungle-like garden that no one bothers to explore, she was greeted by the familiar rush of the thundering waterfall. She was about to close her eyes when a movement caught her eyes. She turned her head sharply, and a very familiar young man smiled at her.
Even before the person fully registered in her mind, her mouth called out his name. "Anakin, right?"
"Yes milady," Anakin replied, nodding. "That's what they call me." He took a step towards her, and the moonlight shined on his face.
"How did you find this place? And aren't you Sabé's date?"
"I wouldn't call it a date," Anakin said with an easy smile. "I mean, I like her, but only as a friend."
Padmé narrowed her eyes at him. "So what, you're leading her on?"
"No! I really want to get to know her as a friend, and I have DEFINITELY not led her on," Anakin protested, raising his hands in surrender. "She might think it that way, but I have done nothing to support it."
Like a ray of sun that had suddenly burst through a stormy cloud, a smile appeared on Padmé's face. "Relax, Anakin," she said, sitting onto the grass. Anakin sat down next to her, seeming oblivious to the fact that she was the senator. Instead, he treated her just like an ordinary person. "So, how did you find this place? Shouldn't you be at the dinner?"
"Shouldn't you?" Anakin replied coyly, tilting his head to look at her, with raised eyebrows. He grinned. "I can't stand crowded places," he explained. "I prefer to be alone. The garden was a perfect place."
"Most people wouldn't bother to explore so deep into the garden," Padmé observed. Anakin grinned in a mock egoistic manner.
"Well, I'm not most people." Anakin surveyed the dark night, with the many stars that sparkled. "I wanted a quiet place without interruptions, without all that blasted noise." He gave a wry grin.
"Wow. You really don't like crowds, do you? How did you manage to survive in this world?"
"I was from Tattooine," Anakin said. "It's a really hot planet, not part of the system. It's controlled by the Hutts," he explained, seeing the senator's puzzled look. "And let's just say, when I was there, I couldn't exactly have many friends. Neither did I really have the time to be with a crowd."
"What about studies and stuff?"
Anakin shrugged. "I like to use my hands, and I'm good at mechanics. That's good enough for old Watts."
"Watts?" was the quizzical reply.
"Watto. He was my," Anakin paused, as if trying to find for a word. "Owner," he blurted out finally.
"Owner? You're a slave?"
Anger flashed in Anakin's blue eyes, and he frowned. "I am not a slave. I am a man, and I have a name." He placed his hands on the ground and pushed himself to a standing position, getting ready to walk off.
Padmé scrambled up, holding her thick, long gown. She grabbed the head- dress that she had thrown to the ground earlier. "Look, Anakin. I'm sorry. I just never heard of such a concept before. I didn't mean to offend you," she apologized gently. Her soft words stopped Anakin, and he turned around to look at her. His tensed jaws slowly relaxed, and he gave a half-smile.
"I'm sorry," he apologized too. "I was over-reacting. Forgive me, your highn-."
"Padmé," she interrupted. At the back of her head, she heard a voice questioning her. After all, she was the Senator. Here was a man she barely knew, and she was already asking him to call her by name. But deep in her heart, she knew that Anakin was definitely not some serial killer, or anything like that. He was just a quiet, young man.
Anakin nodded. "Then you can call Ani, for that's what my close friends, which I might add, aren't many, calls me." He grinned winningly and Padmé couldn't help but return the smile.
"You are a funny one, Ani."
"You're not so bad yourself," was his quick reply. "For a senator, I mean." He gave his mischievous lopsided smirk.
"You're making fun of me," Padmé accused, with laughing eyes and a tilted head. Anakin shook his head violently.
"I wouldn't dare tease a senator," he said with a straight face, before chuckling. Padmé, in a mock-angry face, scooped up soil on the ground and threw it at him. "Oh, relieving your childhood, Padmé?" Of course, that only resulted in getting thrown by another handful of mud.
*** Three hours later ***
The two had been talking for very long now, like old friends who had lost contact years ago, and in a way, Anakin felt as though Padmé was an old friend. He had never really opened up to people, not even to Lukaz, much less to a girl, whom he had categorized under trouble. However, with Padmé, it felt so right, so natural. During this two hours, he had learnt that she was five years older than him, at twenty-four, even though she looks so youthful, and that she had a boyfriend who was a Jedi. He had felt a stab of jealousy when she told him the news, even though he did not know why.
[I can't be infatuated with her. I barely know her!], he told himself repeatedly. But that didn't stop his blood from rushing to his head each time she smiled, it didn't stop his heart from melting each time she moved, it didn't stop his heart from crying out at her very presence.
"Oh no! Has it been that long?" Padmé exclaimed. She gathered up her gown and stood up. "I can't believe time passed that quickly," she said, pacing around nervously.
Anakin grinned at her. "That's great Padmé. Keep pacing around like that. That ought to turn back time," he quipped. He stood up and held her by the shoulders. "Relax. No one will even notice that you were gone."
"Ani, this dinner was FOR ME," she emphasized. Anakin nodded sheepishly.
"Right. That is a problem," he agreed easily. "I guess you really should hurry."
"You think?" Padmé said sarcastically. She gave a tired smile. "I'll see you when you visit Sabé, right?" Anakin nodded reassuringly. "Ani, word of advice. If you don't like Sabé, tell her. She'll understand." Again, Anakin nodded. He pointed to his chrono with a knowing stare and Padmé sighed. "Oh fine, chase me away." She smiled again, and Anakin's heart nearly dropped. She was beautiful.
"Uh, bye," he managed to reply, even though his voice seemed to have caught in his throat. As he watched her retreating figure disappear into the garden, he muttered to himself. "OK. She's gone. Now start breathing." He turned and surveyed the thundering waterfall.
[You've got it bad, buddy], he admitted to himself. [Really bad.]
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OK then. Writing til' here for now! Review please. PLEASE. PPLLEEAASSEE! =P
"Anakin Skywalker?" The guard asked at the door, staring suspiciously at Anakin's invitation card. He curled his upper lip and studied Anakin closely. Beside him, Anakin could hear Lukaz stammering nervously to the other guard. Under his guard's watchful eye, Anakin was glad he had taken Lukaz's advice and cut his hair. His blond curls was now neatly cropped and combed. "You may go," the guard permitted finally. Anakin nodded in thanks and giving Lukaz the 'I'll-be-waiting-inside' signal, entered the huge room.
As he took in the scene that held his view, Anakin, with all his laid- backness, couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. He smiled to himself. Who would have thought it? The slave boy from Tattooine in one of the finest places in the galaxy, surrounded by fine people. He took a step forward, and his keen, deep blue eyes sought out Sabé almost immediately. He gave a sigh and pasted a smile on his face, as he walked towards Sabé.
"Anakin! I was wondering if you were coming," Sabé said quietly, her volume softening with each word. Anakin felt a wave of guilt and he smiled, a real, sincere smile that brightened up his chiseled, tanned face.
"I'm sorry, I had to leave early this afternoon. I had to get some spare parts for my speeder," Anakin said, inwardly kicking himself for the lie. However, it seemed to do the trick as Sabé's eyes practically lit up. Feeling bad for leading her on, Anakin offered to get her a drink.
"No, it's fine," Sabé replied, a little too quickly. She bit her lip and peered up guiltily. Anakin raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Well, as the Senator's chief handmaiden, I have to prepare for some stuff. I know I'm supposed to be your date and all, but I really have to do those stuff."
"Stuff?" Anakin repeated dumbly.
"I have to oversee the servants as the go about doing their jobs. It wasn't supposed to be me, but they're short of manpower and it is my duty to." On and on she babbled, and Anakin had to smile in amusement.
"I get it. It's your responsibility. I understand," Anakin interrupted. "I'll find something to do, don't worry." He gave a mischievous grin. "I won't get into much trouble, I promise, Jedi's honor."
"You're not a Jedi," Sabé protested, laughing at his impish look.
"I COULD be," he countered, stroking his chin, trying to look serious. Sabé laughed again and with a wave, she walked off. Anakin watched her leave, before turning to the other direction and walking towards the garden. He needed a place to be alone; after all, he doesn't really like to be in a crowd.
+++
Padmé smiled at yet another politician, and racked her brains to try and remember the latter's name. "Bail!" She finally recalled, and exclaimed aloud. The charismatic young man grinned back at her. Padmé opened her mouth to continue, when she heard someone else calling her. Excusing herself, she turned her head, and greeted another senator. She sighed in annoyance as she caught sight of Obi-wan, who was standing at the other end of the room, talking to Chancellor Palpantine.
She walked away from the group, a little rudely, and out onto the garden. Breathing in the fresh air, she let the cool breeze comfort and relax her. She walked deeper into the garden, turning randomly, or so it seemed. Padmé had grown up in the palace, and she knew every inch of the garden. In fact, she was probably the only person who had actually ever explored to the end of the garden.
As she walked into her very own secret spot, a place so deep into the huge, jungle-like garden that no one bothers to explore, she was greeted by the familiar rush of the thundering waterfall. She was about to close her eyes when a movement caught her eyes. She turned her head sharply, and a very familiar young man smiled at her.
Even before the person fully registered in her mind, her mouth called out his name. "Anakin, right?"
"Yes milady," Anakin replied, nodding. "That's what they call me." He took a step towards her, and the moonlight shined on his face.
"How did you find this place? And aren't you Sabé's date?"
"I wouldn't call it a date," Anakin said with an easy smile. "I mean, I like her, but only as a friend."
Padmé narrowed her eyes at him. "So what, you're leading her on?"
"No! I really want to get to know her as a friend, and I have DEFINITELY not led her on," Anakin protested, raising his hands in surrender. "She might think it that way, but I have done nothing to support it."
Like a ray of sun that had suddenly burst through a stormy cloud, a smile appeared on Padmé's face. "Relax, Anakin," she said, sitting onto the grass. Anakin sat down next to her, seeming oblivious to the fact that she was the senator. Instead, he treated her just like an ordinary person. "So, how did you find this place? Shouldn't you be at the dinner?"
"Shouldn't you?" Anakin replied coyly, tilting his head to look at her, with raised eyebrows. He grinned. "I can't stand crowded places," he explained. "I prefer to be alone. The garden was a perfect place."
"Most people wouldn't bother to explore so deep into the garden," Padmé observed. Anakin grinned in a mock egoistic manner.
"Well, I'm not most people." Anakin surveyed the dark night, with the many stars that sparkled. "I wanted a quiet place without interruptions, without all that blasted noise." He gave a wry grin.
"Wow. You really don't like crowds, do you? How did you manage to survive in this world?"
"I was from Tattooine," Anakin said. "It's a really hot planet, not part of the system. It's controlled by the Hutts," he explained, seeing the senator's puzzled look. "And let's just say, when I was there, I couldn't exactly have many friends. Neither did I really have the time to be with a crowd."
"What about studies and stuff?"
Anakin shrugged. "I like to use my hands, and I'm good at mechanics. That's good enough for old Watts."
"Watts?" was the quizzical reply.
"Watto. He was my," Anakin paused, as if trying to find for a word. "Owner," he blurted out finally.
"Owner? You're a slave?"
Anger flashed in Anakin's blue eyes, and he frowned. "I am not a slave. I am a man, and I have a name." He placed his hands on the ground and pushed himself to a standing position, getting ready to walk off.
Padmé scrambled up, holding her thick, long gown. She grabbed the head- dress that she had thrown to the ground earlier. "Look, Anakin. I'm sorry. I just never heard of such a concept before. I didn't mean to offend you," she apologized gently. Her soft words stopped Anakin, and he turned around to look at her. His tensed jaws slowly relaxed, and he gave a half-smile.
"I'm sorry," he apologized too. "I was over-reacting. Forgive me, your highn-."
"Padmé," she interrupted. At the back of her head, she heard a voice questioning her. After all, she was the Senator. Here was a man she barely knew, and she was already asking him to call her by name. But deep in her heart, she knew that Anakin was definitely not some serial killer, or anything like that. He was just a quiet, young man.
Anakin nodded. "Then you can call Ani, for that's what my close friends, which I might add, aren't many, calls me." He grinned winningly and Padmé couldn't help but return the smile.
"You are a funny one, Ani."
"You're not so bad yourself," was his quick reply. "For a senator, I mean." He gave his mischievous lopsided smirk.
"You're making fun of me," Padmé accused, with laughing eyes and a tilted head. Anakin shook his head violently.
"I wouldn't dare tease a senator," he said with a straight face, before chuckling. Padmé, in a mock-angry face, scooped up soil on the ground and threw it at him. "Oh, relieving your childhood, Padmé?" Of course, that only resulted in getting thrown by another handful of mud.
*** Three hours later ***
The two had been talking for very long now, like old friends who had lost contact years ago, and in a way, Anakin felt as though Padmé was an old friend. He had never really opened up to people, not even to Lukaz, much less to a girl, whom he had categorized under trouble. However, with Padmé, it felt so right, so natural. During this two hours, he had learnt that she was five years older than him, at twenty-four, even though she looks so youthful, and that she had a boyfriend who was a Jedi. He had felt a stab of jealousy when she told him the news, even though he did not know why.
[I can't be infatuated with her. I barely know her!], he told himself repeatedly. But that didn't stop his blood from rushing to his head each time she smiled, it didn't stop his heart from melting each time she moved, it didn't stop his heart from crying out at her very presence.
"Oh no! Has it been that long?" Padmé exclaimed. She gathered up her gown and stood up. "I can't believe time passed that quickly," she said, pacing around nervously.
Anakin grinned at her. "That's great Padmé. Keep pacing around like that. That ought to turn back time," he quipped. He stood up and held her by the shoulders. "Relax. No one will even notice that you were gone."
"Ani, this dinner was FOR ME," she emphasized. Anakin nodded sheepishly.
"Right. That is a problem," he agreed easily. "I guess you really should hurry."
"You think?" Padmé said sarcastically. She gave a tired smile. "I'll see you when you visit Sabé, right?" Anakin nodded reassuringly. "Ani, word of advice. If you don't like Sabé, tell her. She'll understand." Again, Anakin nodded. He pointed to his chrono with a knowing stare and Padmé sighed. "Oh fine, chase me away." She smiled again, and Anakin's heart nearly dropped. She was beautiful.
"Uh, bye," he managed to reply, even though his voice seemed to have caught in his throat. As he watched her retreating figure disappear into the garden, he muttered to himself. "OK. She's gone. Now start breathing." He turned and surveyed the thundering waterfall.
[You've got it bad, buddy], he admitted to himself. [Really bad.]
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OK then. Writing til' here for now! Review please. PLEASE. PPLLEEAASSEE! =P